Tool to determine quantity of oil

ABSTRACT

A tool for determining the quantity of oil in an oil well comprising a tubular housing having a sample chamber located therein. Remotely controlled valves positioned above and below the sample chamber serve to trap a sample for measurement. An electrode positioned within the chamber and connected to a resistance recording device on the surface measures the amount of oil in an oil-water mixture in the sample chamber.

United States Patent Glenn, Jr. [451 Mar. 21, 1972 s41 TOOL TO DETERMINEQUANTITY OF 3,195,042 7/1965 Glenn, Jr. et al ..73/155 x OIL 3,248,9385/1966 Hill et a1. ..73/155 3,279,249 10/1966 Tocanne ..73/155 X [721Imam Beach 3,371,527 3/1968 Moulin ..73/155 [73] Assignee: TriangleServlce, lnc., Long Beach, Calif.

Primary ExaminereLouis R. Prince [22] filed 1968 AssistantExaminer.loseph W. Roskos [21] Appl. No.: 731,445 Attorney-Kendrick,Subkov & Kriegel, Philip llbk0W and Bernard Kriegel 152] US. Cl...73/61.l 12,73/155 1511 '.1221]; 41/12 [57] ABSTRACT 0' SCIICI'I A fdete mining the quantity of in an we" com. 7 prising a tubular housinghaving a sample chamber located [56] Relennces cued therein. Remotelycontrolled valves positioned above and UNITED STATES PATENTS below thesample chamber serve to trap a sample for measurement. An electrodepositioned within the chamber and con- 3,530,71l 9/1970 Tocanne ..73/l55nected to a resistance recording device on the surface mea- Wood X suresthe amount of oil in an oiLwate mixture in the ample 2,862,561 12/1958Teubner ..73/425.4 X chamber, 3,103,812 9/1963 Boume, Jr. et a1...r..73/155 3,130,808 4/1964 Walker, Jr. et a1 ..73/ 155 X 9 Claims, 5Drawing Figures PATENTEUMARZI 1972 4 3 5 I 2 Hr I m m F F 4 1 \vi, 7 4I1! a 9 INVENTOR (TAME-S J 6/. ENN, Jk.

rmmvsy TOOL TO DETERMINE QUANTITY OF OIL An object of my invention is toprovide a novel tool which will determine the quantity of oil and waterat any desired point in the well, and which will record the percentageof water present at the tested point; this recording being carried tothe surface of the ground where a record can be made of the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel tool to determinethe quantity of oil and water at various points throughout the depth ofan oil well, and where the tool can be controlled by means of anelectrical motor in the tool; the control of the motor beingaccomplished from the surface of the ground.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel oil and watertesting tool of the character stated which includes valves within thetool, the valves being both opened and closed by means of an electricmotor, and the motor being started and stopped from the surface of theground.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel tool of thecharacter stated which can be successively opened and closed to receivesamples of the fluid in the well, said control of the valves of the toolbeing accomplished from the surface of the ground.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from theaccompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and theappended claims.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of my tool todetermine the quantity of fluids in a well.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of my tool.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of my tool.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the electrode rod and theelectrical circuit extending thereto.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates theouter cylindrical and tubular housing which is smaller in diameter thanthe drilled bore of the well. This housing is provided with a suitablecable socket 2 at its upper end, which is usual and well known in theart for oil well tools. A cable 3 is attached to the socket 2 andextends to the surface. Electrical leads 4 extend through the cable andare controlled by the operator. The cable 3 also acts as a means tosupport or move the tool in the bore of the well. Usual hoistingequipment (not shown) accomplishes this purpose. An electric motor 5 ismounted within the housing 1 and adjacent the upper end thereof, and thepower is supplied to the motor 5 through the electric lead 4 in theusual and well known manner. The operator at the surface can thus startand stop the electric motor 5 at will, for a purpose to be subsequentlydescribed. The motor '5 is fixedly positioned within the housing 1 andis provided with a drive shaft 6 which is journaled in the bearing 7.The bearing 7 is fixedly mounted within the housing 1 in any suitablemanner so that it will effectively support the shaft 6. A threaded shaft8 extends downwardly from the drive shaft 6 and this shaft is threadedinto a nut 9, which is mounted for vertical movement in the housing 1but is prevented from rotating by engagement with the vertical ribs 10.An operating tube 11 extends downwardly from the nut 9 and may be anintegral part of this nut. This tube will move vertically within thehousing 1 with the nut 9 as the threaded shaft 8 is rotated, as will beevident.

A rod 12 is coupled or attached to the tube 11 in any suitable mannerand, consequently, will move vertically with the tube. As thus fardescribed, when the motor 5 is actuated the threaded shaft 8 will rotatein one direction or the other, depending upon the direction of rotationof the motor 5. The motor 5, being reversible, can be controlled asrequired by the .operator at the surface. Consequently, the nut 9 andthe tube 11, together with the rod 12, can be raised or lowered withinthe housing 1.

' A testing chamber 13 is provided within the housing 1 and this chamberwill have considerable length so that a substantial quantity of fluidcan be entrapped in this chamber,as will be subsequently described. Avalve seat 14 is provided at the upper end of the chamber 13, and asecond valve seat 15 is provided at the lower end of the chamber. Avalve 16 is fixedly secured to the rod 12 and will rest on the seat 14in one position of the parts and can be lifted off of this seat to theposition shown in FIG. 2. A second valve 17 is also fixedly attached tothe rod 12 and moves relative to the seat 15, that is, it will be liftedoff of the seat as shown in FIG. 2 in one position of the parts. Thehousing 1 is provided with fluid intake ports 18 which are positionedabove the seat 14 and permit entrance of fluid past the seat '14 andinto the chamber 13 when the valve 16 is raised. A second set of ports19 in the housing 1 are positioned below the seat 15. These latter portsare opened or closed by means of a tubular sleeve valve 20 which areattached to the rod 12. When the valves 16 and 17 are seated, the sleevevalve 20 is moved downwardly to open the ports 19. As shown in FIG. 2when the valves 16-17 are unseated the valve 20 closes the ports 19.When the ports 19 are closed the chamber 13 will fill with fluid andwill be subsequently tested.

An electrode tube 21 is attached to the rod 12 and extends substantiallythe entire length of the chamber 13 and vertically within that chamberas shown. An electrical wire 22 extends from the electrode tube 21 tothe surface through suitable electronic elements 23, which are usual andwell known in the art. In other words, the electrode tube 21 willdetermine electrical resistance of the fluid in the chamber 13 and thiselectrical resistance will vary, depending on the amount of oil andwater within the chamber. 7 i

A fluid deflector and tool stabilizer 24 consists of a plurality ofspring fingers 25 which are attached to the lower end of the housing 1.These fingers engage the bore of the well and will deflect'fluidoutwardly as the tool is raised, and also will tend to centralize andstabilize the tool. A suitable type of webbing 26 extends between thefingers 25 and is formed of either a metallic or nonmetallic material,as desired. A cap 27 is secured to the lower end of the rod 12 and thiscap fits over the lower end of the fingers 25 to hold the deflector 24in collapsed position when the tool is being lowered into the well. Whenbottom is reached the rod 12, together with the cap 27, is pusheddownwardly by the motor 5 in the manner previously described, thusreleasing the fingers 25 which spring outwardly to their extendedposition and remain in this position during the time that the tool isbeing raised to the surface.

1N OPERATION The housing 1, with the other elements therein, is loweredin the oil well entirely to the bottom or approximately to the bottom.While the tool-is being lowered the fluid deflector 24 is in the closedposition, as shown in FIG. 1, and the valves 16-17 are seated. Thesleeve valve 20 is in the open position, that is, the port 19 is open.When bottom is reached the motor 5 is actuated to unseat the valves16-17, and simultaneously the sleeve valve 20 will close the port 19.The chamber 13 can now fill with fluid from the ports 18 and the tool ispermitted to remain stationary in a vertical position for a length oftime, permitting the water to settle to the bottom of the chamber 13 andthe oil to float on top of this quantity of water. The electrode tube 21extends into the separated water in the chamber 13 and extends throughthe demarcation line or surface between the oil and water. Theresistance to the flow of electricity through the electrode tube 21 isread at the surface, and this will indicate the amount of water in thebottom of the chamber 13. In other words, this indicates the water cutin the oil. After a reading has been taken the motor 5 is reversed indirection and the valves 16-17 are lifted off of their seats, permittingthe fluid in the chamber 13 to flow out through the ports 19. The rod 12during this motor operation is moved downwardly, which pushes the cap 27downwardly releasing the fingers 25 and permitting the tool stabilizer24 to spring outwardly acting as a fluid deflector and as a stabilizer.The tool is now raised to the next desired position, after which themotor 5 is again actuated to close the valves l6-l7, again trapping asample of fluid (oil and water) in the chamber 13, and after separationof the fluids has been accomplished a second reading is taken as before,and this operation is repeated as many times as required throughout thedepth of the well.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

I. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well,comprising, an elongated tubular housing, said housing having acylindrical chamber therein, valve means at each of theupper and thelower endsof the chamber, motor drive means within the housing andoperatively connected to both of said valve means to open and close saidvalve means, means remotely spaced from the motor means to control theoperation of said motor means, an electrode tube in said chamberextending lengthwise thereof, and an electronic circuit including theelectrode tube and extending to a remotely spaced resistance recordingmeans.

2. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well asrecited in claim 1, and a seat for each valve within the housing,and-ports in the housing above and below said chamber.

3. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well asrecited in claim 1, and a seat for each valve within the housing, andports in the housing above and below said chamber, and a sleeve valve inthe housing to open and close the bottom port.

4. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well asrecited in claim 1, said motor drive means within the housing comprisingan electrical motor, a threaded shaft driven by the motor, a nutthreaded on said shaft, means in the housing engaging the nut to preventrotation thereof to cause reciprocation of said nut on rotation of theshaft, and means extending from the nut to said valvesto actuate thevalves.

' 5. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil wellas recited in claim 1, said motor drive means within extending from thenut to said valves to actuate the valves, a

seat for each valve within the housing and ports in the housing aboveand below said chamber.

6. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well asrecited in claim 1, said motor drive means within the housing comprisingan electrical motor, a threaded shaft driven by the motor, a nutthreaded on said shaft, means in the housing engaging the nut to preventrotation thereof to cause reciprocation of said nut on rotation of theshaft, and means extending from the nut to said valves to actuate thevalves, a seat for each valve within the housing and ports in thehousing above and below said chamber, and a sleeve valve in the housingto open and close the bottom ports.

7. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well asrecited in claim 1, and a fluid deflector and tool stabilizer on thelower end of said housing consisting of a plurality of spring fingersprojecting outwardly from the housing to engage the bore of the oilwell.

8. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well asrecited in claim 1, and a seat for each valve within the housing, andports in the housing above and below said chamber, and a fluid deflectorand tool stabilizer on the lower end of said housing consisting of aplurality of spring fingers projecting outwardly from the housing toengage the bore of the oil well.

9. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well asrecited in claim 1, and a seat for each valve within the housing, andports in the housing above and below said chamber, and a sleeve valve inthe housing to open and close the bottom port, a fluid deflector andtool stabilizer on the lower end of said housin consistin of apluralityof sprin fingers pro ecting outward y from the ouslng to engage the oreof the oil well.

1. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well,comprising, an elongated tubular housing, said housing having acylindrical chamber therein, valve means at each of the upper and thelower ends of the chamber, motor drive means within the housing andoperatively connected to both of said valve means to open and close saidvalve means, means remotely spaced from the motor means to control theoperation of said motor means, an electrode tube in said chamberextending lengthwise thereof, and an electronic circuit including theelectrode tube and extending to a remotely spaced resistance recordingmeans.
 2. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oilwell as recited in claim 1, and a seat for each valve within thehousing, and ports in the housing above and below said chamber.
 3. Atool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well asrecited in claim 1, and a seat for each valve within the housing, andports in the housing above and below said chamber, and a sleeve valve inthe housing to open and close the bottom port.
 4. A tool to determinethe quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well as recited in claim 1,said motor drive means within the housing comprising an electricalmotor, a threaded shaft driven by the motor, a nut threaded on saidshaft, means in the housing engaging the nut to prevent rotation thereofto cause reciprocation of said nut on rotation of the shaft, and meansextending from the nut to said valves to actuate the valves.
 5. A toolto determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well as recitedin claim 1, said motor drive means within the housing comprising anelectrical motor, a threaded shaft driven by the motor, a nut threadedon said shaft, means in the housing engaging the nut to prevent rotationthereof to cause reciprocation of said nut on rotation of the shaft, andmeans extending from the nut to said valves to actuate the valves, aseat for each valve within the housing and ports in the housing aboveAnd below said chamber.
 6. A tool to determine the quantity of oil inthe bore of an oil well as recited in claim 1, said motor drive meanswithin the housing comprising an electrical motor, a threaded shaftdriven by the motor, a nut threaded on said shaft, means in the housingengaging the nut to prevent rotation thereof to cause reciprocation ofsaid nut on rotation of the shaft, and means extending from the nut tosaid valves to actuate the valves, a seat for each valve within thehousing and ports in the housing above and below said chamber, and asleeve valve in the housing to open and close the bottom ports.
 7. Atool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well asrecited in claim 1, and a fluid deflector and tool stabilizer on thelower end of said housing consisting of a plurality of spring fingersprojecting outwardly from the housing to engage the bore of the oilwell.
 8. A tool to determine the quantity of oil in the bore of an oilwell as recited in claim 1, and a seat for each valve within thehousing, and ports in the housing above and below said chamber, and afluid deflector and tool stabilizer on the lower end of said housingconsisting of a plurality of spring fingers projecting outwardly fromthe housing to engage the bore of the oil well.
 9. A tool to determinethe quantity of oil in the bore of an oil well as recited in claim 1,and a seat for each valve within the housing, and ports in the housingabove and below said chamber, and a sleeve valve in the housing to openand close the bottom port, a fluid deflector and tool stabilizer on thelower end of said housing consisting of a plurality of spring fingersprojecting outwardly from the housing to engage the bore of the oilwell.